ROSS'S GRAND DAY MAKES DODGERS' DECISION EASY HIS 2 HRS, 7 RBIS IN WIN ASSURE ROSTER SPOT DODGERS 13, PITTSBURGH 5.

Byline: TONY JACKSON  Staff Writer

PITTSBURGH - As if the Dodgers needed another reason to hang onto Cody Ross, he gave them two more Thursday: homering twice and driving in a career-high seven runs.

What they really needed was a means of hanging onto him, and Yhency Brazoban may have given them that.

In the fifth inning of a 13-5 pasting of the Pittsburgh Pirates in front of 18,134 fans at PNC Park, Ross launched a grand slam to left-center field off Oliver Perez, breaking open a tie game. He then smoked a three-run blast off Damaso Marte in the sixth, a shot that one-hopped the back wall of the Pirates' bullpen with such force the impact could be clearly heard way up in baseball's loftiest press box.

Meanwhile, three Dodgers sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Brazoban is scheduled for an MRI exam to determine the cause of continued discomfort in his right elbow, which could have something to do with his less-than-impressive performance thus far this season.

The right-hander didn't pitch in Thursday's game and is expected to undergo the examination in Los Angeles sometime today.

All of which goes a long way toward clearing up what will happen with the roster when center fielder Kenny Lofton is activated from the 15-day disabled list, something Manager Grady Little said will happen either today or Saturday.

"I feel certain of that," Little said.

The Dodgers have carried 12 pitchers so far this season, mostly because Little didn't think he had enough relievers who could give him multiple innings.

Even after Tim Hamulack, Franquelis Osoria and Takashi Saito combined to allow a run on three hits over the final three innings to seal Derek Lowe's first win of the season, the bullpen is a collective 0-4 with a 4.98 ERA.

That apparently has led Little and General Manager Ned Colletti to rethink their earlier position and strongly consider cutting back to 11 pitchers.

"It's something we're leaning toward right now, before we get on this plane," Little said after the game, as the Dodgers prepared to fly home for a 10-game stand that opens tonight against San Francisco. "It would get the people we have here a little more work, and we think their effectiveness will increase with a little bit more of a workload."

That would keep a spot open for the sizzling Ross, who is batting .500 (6 for 12) with a double, triple, the two homers and nine RBIs and is out of minor-league options. Before the Dodgers could send Ross to Triple-A Las Vegas, he would have to clear waivers, something that would seem highly unlikely considering his present numbers.

"It seems like I'm back in spring training, trying to prove myself again," Ross said. "I'm trying not to let it affect my game ... but it's tough. It weighs on me. It's stressful. I have no clue what's going to happen. I haven't had one person say anything remotely close to telling me what's going on."

The result of Brazoban's MRI is expected by this afternoon. If it shows no injury and he doesn't go onto the DL, there is a strong chance he will be optioned to Las Vegas to work out whatever is causing him to pitch so poorly.

Brazoban was the club's closer for a time last season after Eric Gagne went down with elbow surgery and initially was adequate. But since July 1, he is 2-8 with a 6.04 ERA, and he was shut down at one point in spring training with discomfort in his shoulder and elbow.

"This is a guy we certainly feel isn't throwing the ball like he is capable of throwing it," Little said.

The Dodgers (5-5) salvaged a four-game split with the Pirates after blowing leads in each of the two previous games. They also wrapped up a winning road trip, having taken two of three from Philadelphia over the weekend.

Lowe (1-1) was far from dominant, allowing four runs on six hits over six innings. But the Pirates' two-run fourth was the result of an error by Rafael Furcal, and Lowe gave way to Hamulack to start the sixth with a comfortable 11-4 lead.

Perez (0-2) left with two outs in the fifth, after giving up Ross's grand slam and walking Lowe two batters later. The alleged ace of Jim Tracy's starting staff, Perez has an 8.10 ERA in three starts this season.

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Dodger Cody Ross is congratulated by teammates after hitting a tie-breaking grand slam in the fifth inning.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Box:

DODGERS VS. SAN FRANCISCO

- Tony Jackson